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Lead effects on postural balance of children
A Bhattacharya1, R Shukla, R L Bornschein
1Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056.
Insights
High blood lead levels in early childhood can impair balance. This study found a link between peak blood lead during the second year of life and poorer postural sway in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Environmental Health
- Neurodevelopmental Toxicology
- Biomechanics and Motor Control
Background:
- Childhood lead exposure is a significant public health concern.
- Lead exposure is known to affect neurodevelopment and motor function.
- Understanding the specific impact on postural control is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between early-life blood lead levels and postural sway in young children.
- To identify critical windows of exposure for lead's impact on balance.
- To explore the afferent systems involved in postural maintenance following lead exposure.
Main Methods:
- Quantified postural sway in 63 children (mean age 5.74 years) using a Force Platform.
- Analyzed blood lead levels (PbB) during the first 5 years of life (average max PbB 20.7 µg/dL).
- Employed backward stepwise regression analysis, controlling for covariates and confounders.
Main Results:
- A significant relationship was found between peak blood lead during the second year of life and sway area response.
- Specifically, the eyes-closed, no-foam test revealed this association.
- Results align with previous findings in smaller cohorts.
Conclusions:
- Peak blood lead exposure around 2 years of age may impair vestibular and/or proprioception systems.
- Children may compensate for impaired systems by relying more on visual input for balance.
- This suggests a potential mechanism for visual dominance in postural control after early lead exposure.
Abstract:
The postural sway responses of 63 children with a mean age of 5.74 years were quantified with a Force Platform technique. The average maximum (max) blood lead (PbB) of these children during the first 5 years of life was 20.7 micrograms/dL (range 9.2 to 32.5). The backward stepwise regression analysis for sway area response during the eyes-closed, no-foam test with all the covariates and confounders and the PbB parameters showed a significant relationship with peak or max PbB during the second year of life. These results are consistent with our previous study with a smaller group of children. The data have been analyzed to provide some insight into the role of various afferent for the maintenance of postural balance. The results suggests a hypothesis that if the max PbB had caused some level of impairment in the functional capacities or interconnectivity of the vestibular and/or proprioception systems at 2 years of age, then it is reasonable to assume that the redundancy in the postural afferent systems would naturally adapt to rely more on the remaining intact afferent system (in this case, vision).